588R big block

[Detroit Bill]

I did see a naturally aspirated 5.0 Coyote this weekend being put into a Factory 5 car. It was interesting. I think with a supercharger it would be very interesting. The shocking part is the price tag. $8K for a naturally aspirated crate engine. I am not sure what supercharging does to the price.

I am not trying to fool anyone with my FE. Its just what I wanted.

[Joe's Garage]

I've learned two things from this thread.
One must keep up appearances.
Beauty IS only skin deep.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I did see a naturally aspirated 5.0 Coyote this weekend being put into a Factory 5 car. It was interesting. I think with a supercharger it would be very interesting. The shocking part is the price tag. $8K for a naturally aspirated crate engine. I am not sure what supercharging does to the price.

I am not trying to fool anyone with my FE. Its just what I wanted.

I'm really liking the Coyote motor. Just got to figure out what I would put it in.

[rodneym]

588FE?
That might be tough.

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

But actually not "be right" if it's not a 427, how many honest FE 427's are actually in these cars?

About as many as there are honest Cobras.

[Buzz]

I'm not a fan of the BDR shape, but their many customers seem quite happy. If I were to build a modern interpretation of a Cobra with up to date steering, suspension and brakes (sorry - I just can't bring myself to do the dual padded roll bars), I would go all in with a modern power plant as well; and in that case, there is no better choice to me than this:
The Corvette Z06's Supercharged LT4 Powerplant Now Available as a Crate Engine - Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle
Smaller, lighter, more potent and just plain better than the Coyote, it's a no-brainer. Carroll Shelby had no engine brand loyalty hang-ups whatsoever - so why the heck should I?

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'll tell ya... that damn Patrick is a friggin' genius.

NOW that's more like it... Where on earth have you been?
Good to have the real Patrick back.

--

If it were me, in a BDR - I'd slap a coyote in it, and then if I was happy with power and wanted aesthetics - Id slap an 8 stack intake on it, else if I wanted more power, a supercharger is fitting.

So that would make it a REAL S/C Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Carroll Shelby had no engine brand loyalty hang-ups whatsoever - so why the heck should I?

Cos you're better than him!

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by rodneym

588FE?
That might be tough.

Yup. And me thinks you won't build something like that for around $20k either!
We are talking pretty exotic stuff to build something like that if even possible.

[Joe's Garage]

Just using the OP's example of a Roush 588, personally I think Buzz has it right regarding a BDR, a Kirkham would likely be a different story.

[Varmit]

Originally Posted by undy

Roush's build quality, backing of warranty and value has been far from stellar. As others have said, There are much better engines out there for a lot less money.

Yes I dumped my Roush 427 for a KC482 with 630 hp,

[patrickt]

Why is the OP leaning towards a BDR in the first place?

[1795]

There is nothing like the look and rumble of an FE, and they are getting scarce. Very few quality vintage FE blocks still available. A 390 is more affordable than a 427 or 428 and can be built to perform very well, and as other have stated, it is difficult to tell a 390 from a 428 or 427 without a lot of work.

An FE gives you all the low end torque that you will need and reality is, most of the time that you are going to want some power to pass some Sunday driver will occur in the 2,000-3,000 rpm range. On an FE that is where your torque is going to be, HP does not even begin to start hitting significant levels until the 4,000 rpm and up range. There is no hesitation with my FE at lower rpms when I want to pull out and get by someone.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by Varmit

Yes I dumped my Roush 427 for a KC482 with 630 hp,

Hell, Chevy will sell you a 572 with 700 plus HP crate motor for under $20k.
Problem is, it's not an FE!

[RockBit]

X2 on Brent Lykins. He is building an all aluminum 427 FE SO for me in which he selected the components to give me the drive ability and power level that I want. I also went with Brent for the transmission and clutch assembly. I just let him know what I wanted, and let him choose the combo to deliver it. He is very fair on pricing.

[olddog]

The fastest car I ever road in was a Cobra with 385 series stroked to 532 cid.

I would say the least expensive Ford engine to make 400 Hp - 600 Hp is hands down the 385 series engine.

With that said I have looked at quite a few Cobra with the humongous bock engines in them. It looks like they had to use shoe horns, smoke, and mirrors to make them fit.

You really need to check some out. I have heard a lot of talk on milling off intakes and special air filters to end up with almost no hood clearance to spare. Headers are very close to foot boxes. Certainly they will fit, but I do not think it is easy. The hot foot box may be true for the FE, as well, but likely more so with the 385.

I have to say I would lean toward the FE, too. They are a tad pricey and if you do not pick an experienced FE builder, you could have a lot of trouble. Other than that, I cannot think of a single reason not to go with an FE.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by olddog

I have to say I would lean toward the FE, too. They are a tad pricey and if you do not pick an experienced FE builder, you could have a lot of trouble. Other than that, I cannot think of a single reason not to go with an FE.

There is nothing like an FE! You can buy the 385's all day long and they are stump pullers. But an FE is just different. They are expensive and finicky, leak oil and all of that. But those who know them love them!

[scootter]

I bought my first Cobra with a Ford 514 600 plus hp. Wouldn't have changed that for anything. The next motor I have been looking at is 514 BBF Street Crate.

Scott

[mdross1]

Back in the early 90's when I first started looking for something to power my Cobra hot rod considered BBC and all the BBF. The Cammer and Boss engines were out because of cost and inherent problems with both. FE's were plentiful,but was talked into the 460 because of it's ability to make easy hp and it certainly is a Ford product. The fender badges display 460 nothing to hide. Sometimes think it would be so cool to have another 100 ci or so.

I do understand the loyalty people have to the Cobra's I have it with the outward appearance and interior. Would never criticize anyone elses choices of vendor will never understand why some feel so compelled to do so. But then we are surrounded by those very types every where we turn. Life for me is too short to be so wrapped up in trying to impress the neighbors.

[DanEC]

I think the important thing if you go with a 385 series would be to use as many aluminum parts as possible to get the weight down (heads, intake, water pump, etc). That would probably be step 2 after making sure it will fit in the engine bay.

Nice thing about an FE is it is actually reasonably compact for a BB engine and depending on how far you go with aluminum components (nice that aluminum blocks are available) it can actually end up pretty light weight. Even an all-iron 390 is lighter than a similar BB Chevy or 385 by quite a few pounds. Bad thing is they have a few oddities in their design and assembly to deal with.